All of us at The Green Yogi are so excited to honor Oona Barry as our Manduka Sponsored Yogi of the month for February! Oona started practicing with us in July of 2013 and since has taken over 100 classes in just 6 months! We are filled with gratitude for her energy and are so happy to provide a space for her to practice, congratulations Oona!

OCCUPATION: My work stems from my life purpose to be of service to the innate longing for humans to connect. My most obvious contribution to the world for coaching how to “connect”, is demonstrated alongside my business partner, Synneve Andrena Founder of Love Inside Out. Whether it’s beauty products or group coaching in remote areas of the world, this is a platform where I facilitate our human right to experience joy. I also work with an organization based in London called the Chelsea Quarter Cafe, which is part of the Quarter Group. They are in the midst of opening a fifth location for their boutique cafes, along with launching an international project. My background with Peet’s Coffee & Tea along with my ability to bring “connection” into the hospitality business, is leading me to be the Quarter’s Director of Operations. Yup.. better come visit me at Peet’s in Manhattan Beach, before I move to London for my next adventure.

NICKNAME: Ohno.. yes, I bring the party to the party.

FUN FACT ABOUT YOU: I am as sweet as it gets, I see the humor in just about everything, and I love to dance anywhere, anytime.. especially while washing dishes 😉

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE INSTRUCTOR AND WHY? I admit I am a yoga snob who practiced and commuted all over Los Angeles for great teachers. However the instructors at The Green Yogi, are responsible for ending my days of running around town for a great class. I feel tremendous gratitude for having such an amazing group of yoga teachers, just a bike ride away from home. Thank you!

WHAT IS YOUR INTENTION FOR YOUR YOGA PRACTICE? My intention behind my practice is to connect with “Self”. I connect to the community for a living and for fun, which I truly love. Yoga is a time for me to connect with me.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE YOGA POSE? Adho Mukha Vrkasana/Handstand Pose. What I love about this pose, is that I have not mastered it and I am still learning how to hold the pose for more than a few seconds. As a result, for me handstands are about playing, falling, laughing, falling, falling, falling and trying it again and again and again. This pose is a constant reminder for me to fall (literally..haha) in love with the process, and not the end result.

WHAT SONG SHOULD BE ON EVERY YOGA PLAYLIST? This is a tough one to answer because it changes for me all the time, but in this moment, I am loving Burn by Ellie Goulding.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? I am inspired by people who risk walking into the unknown due to their unwavering commitment to being authentic to “Self”. One should never base a decision upon fear. Never. Fear of being hurt, fear of being wrong, fear of failing, fear of intimacy, you name it. The fact is results are never guaranteed, but those who walk into the unknown regardless of the end result, discover greatness. If you don’t have the courage to fail, then you don’t have the courage to succeed. I am inspired by those who demonstrate this understanding.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PRACTICING AND HOW HAS YOGA IMPROVED YOUR LIFE? Approximately twenty years.. Yay!